Page 44 - MetalForming November 2017

Elisabeth Weissenrieder-Bennis
Director, Strategic Planning Weiss-Aug Co., Inc.
East Hanover, NJ
Through her efforts in marketing, operations and corporate strategy, Elisa- beth has been the driving force behind Weiss-Aug’s growth and expansion. As the firm’s former marketing manager, she orchestrated strategies to help increase market exposure. Working in strategic planning and operations, Elisa- beth collaborated with the Mexican gov- ernment and other entities to evaluate and secure a site for the company’s new facility in Mexico.
Elisabeth’s integral role in company growth is only beginning, as she now is a member of the board at Weiss-Aug, responsible for corporate strategy for five plants in two countries.
“My reasons for recommending a career in manufacturing to women are the same reasons that I would recom- mend a career to men: seeing a prod- uct/part come to life from a CAD model through full-blown production is really rewarding. Knowing that a product/part is being used in a critical part of a car or on the operating table makes you feel like you are part of contributing some- thing of value. Lastly, manufacturing is fast-paced, and although it’s very chal- lenging, it’s also a lot of fun!”
Kelly Springer
Chief Operating Officer Metal Flow Corp. Holland, MI
Kelly arrived at Metal Flow nearly five years ago, adding her 20 years of accounting experience to the company’s executive team. Serving as CFO before transitioning into operations, she hit the ground running in the metalforming industry thanks to her intelligence, pro- fessionalism and leadership skills. These skills have allowed Kelly to quickly take charge of a 300-employee operation, learn the ins and outs of a complex industry, and prepare the company’s leadership team for the retirement of the executive vice president/CEO.
“Kelly puts Metal Flow at the fore- front of all of her decisions and does it all with grace,” says her nominator. “We couldn't be more proud to be led by such a strong, intelligent and driven woman.”
“Women have tremendous career opportunities in manufacturing. The shift to highly technical processes pro- vides women with challenging assign- ments and rewarding long-term career paths. It is further enhanced with opportunities to participate in a global marketplace. Teamwork and compen- sation programs provide women with careers in manufacturing that reward strong performers. This is not an indus- try to be overlooked for women.”
Jamie Natter
Owner
JB Global, LLC Brighton, MI
After working in metal-stamping and automotive-manufacturing sales for 15 years, Jamie founded her own company, JB Global, LLC, in 2014.
“Jamie has a strength in building pos- itive relationships and establishing trust and credibility,” says her nominator, “which are key factors attributing to the success of JB Global.”
Her tendency to build strong relation- ships extends beyond customers and clients, as she actively is involved in a number of professional organizations including the Automotive Women's Alliance Foundation, the Original Equip- ment Suppliers Association, various tool- ing councils and others.
Through her involvement in these ini- tiatives, Jamie hopes to encourage and mentor younger generations to pursue careers in the automotive and manufac- turing sectors.
“Manufacturing is a constantly evolv- ing environment. It’s important to under- stand the latest technologies and market needs, and to be flexible in order to grow. The companies that appreciate diversity of thought and empower their teams to use their unique talents to drive positive change will thrive. For women considering entering manufacturing, I’d offer the following advice: Stay true to yourself, be proud of your talents, embrace challenges as opportunities to persevere, listen intently to others and let kindness, empathy and respect be your guiding virtues.”
42 MetalForming/November 2017
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